Should I change things up and buy more than one ticket at a time for draws on games?Prev Topic Next Topic

New Topic New Poll

shyguitar

United States
Member #122,462
February 1, 2012
530 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 12:39 pm

Hi everyone,

Just wondered people's thoughts on buying more than one ticket per draw for games. My usual thing is to buy one ticket for games like Mass Cash, Powerball and Megamillions. On PB and MM I always purchase the Multiplier and Powerplay so I'm already spending an extra dollar on my one ticket. Have consistently had no luck buying one ticket and wondered if it really makes much of a difference buying like 2 or more tickets (especially 5 at once). Since the odds for PB and MM are so astronomical I'm wondering if it would even be worth it to throw away more money in the hopes of winning. How successfull have people been by buying more than one ticket per game? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
rdgrnr

100

The Hall Of The Mountain Kings Tennessee
United States
Member #73,902
April 28, 2009
15,378 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 1:25 pm

I don't think it matters a whole lot if you have one or two lines in a game that has over 175 million possible lines.

Picture a pile of over 175 million grains of sand and one of them (painted red) is yours.

What do you think the chances are that you could pick out that red one - blindfolded?

And do you think having 2 grains of sand painted red in that pile of over 175 million grains of sand would increase your chances much?

That's just something to consider if the expense of another ticket is a concern.
RJOh

100

mid-Ohio
United States
Member #9
March 24, 2001
20,272 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 1:36 pm

Quote: Originally posted by shyguitar on Mar 12, 2013
Hi everyone,

Just wondered people's thoughts on buying more than one ticket per draw for games. My usual thing is to buy one ticket for games like Mass Cash, Powerball and Megamillions. On PB and MM I always purchase the Multiplier and Powerplay so I'm already spending an extra dollar on my one ticket. Have consistently had no luck buying one ticket and wondered if it really makes much of a difference buying like 2 or more tickets (especially 5 at once). Since the odds for PB and MM are so astronomical I'm wondering if it would even be worth it to throw away more money in the hopes of winning. How successfull have people been by buying more than one ticket per game? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Why not test your theory on the prediction board? Post your pick plus nine more on the prediction board for a while and see what happens. If the addition picks don't improve your average wins stats then you'll know they won't when you play for real.

* you don't need to buy every combination, just the winning ones *
helpmewin

100

u$a
United States
Member #106,660
February 22, 2011
19,960 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 1:40 pm

Anythings possible Good Luck
dallascowboyfan

Oklahoma
United States
Member #82,389
November 12, 2009
6,374 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 1:41 pm

shy, remember to stay within your means. You can spend $1 on a ticket & win or you can spend $5 on tickets and win. Just make sure you can afford to play. FYI there has been several Jackpot winners that played with $1.00. Stay positive

http://www.powerball.com/powerball/winners/2008/050808LA-hunter.shtm

http://www.powerball.com/powerball/winners/2010/122510NY_Pintuff.shtml

I Love Pink & Green 1908
mcginnin56

United States
Member #111,437
May 25, 2011
6,323 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 4:21 pm

I'd like to think your odds are incrementally better by buying one self pick and one QP.

I always have good luck with the QP's, and they are historically the highest percentage of jackpot winners.
redhot7

California
United States
Member #112,359
June 17, 2011
661 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 4:48 pm

Quote: Originally posted by shyguitar on Mar 12, 2013
Hi everyone,

Just wondered people's thoughts on buying more than one ticket per draw for games. My usual thing is to buy one ticket for games like Mass Cash, Powerball and Megamillions. On PB and MM I always purchase the Multiplier and Powerplay so I'm already spending an extra dollar on my one ticket. Have consistently had no luck buying one ticket and wondered if it really makes much of a difference buying like 2 or more tickets (especially 5 at once). Since the odds for PB and MM are so astronomical I'm wondering if it would even be worth it to throw away more money in the hopes of winning. How successfull have people been by buying more than one ticket per game? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

The chances of winning the jackpot for MM are about 1 in 176 million. If you buy 2 tickets, your chance of winning are 2 in 176 million or 1 in 88 million. If you buy 10 tickets, your chance are 10 in 176 millions or 1 in 17.6 millions. Still astronomical but certainly improve the odds. Your chances of winning lower prices in the prize table work in the similar way.

And it doesn't matter how you get your number. Every single combination of numbers has equal probability to win. Whether you pick your own number manually or you let the machine pick the number for you (quick pick) has nothing to do with whether or not your number is going to win.

If you pick less popular numbers, you are not going to increase the chance of winning. However, if you do win, chances are more likely that you are going to be the only one who win the jackpot and hence you don't need to split it with other players.
Artist77

United States
Member #121,739
January 16, 2012
8,817 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 6:15 pm

Quote: Originally posted by redhot7 on Mar 12, 2013
The chances of winning the jackpot for MM are about 1 in 176 million. If you buy 2 tickets, your chance of winning are 2 in 176 million or 1 in 88 million. If you buy 10 tickets, your chance are 10 in 176 millions or 1 in 17.6 millions. Still astronomical but certainly improve the odds. Your chances of winning lower prices in the prize table work in the similar way.

And it doesn't matter how you get your number. Every single combination of numbers has equal probability to win. Whether you pick your own number manually or you let the machine pick the number for you (quick pick) has nothing to do with whether or not your number is going to win.

If you pick less popular numbers, you are not going to increase the chance of winning. However, if you do win, chances are more likely that you are going to be the only one who win the jackpot and hence you don't need to split it with other players.

How does 2 in 176 million convert to 1 in 88 million? Two tickets double your chances???
redhot7

California
United States
Member #112,359
June 17, 2011
661 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 6:38 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Mar 12, 2013
How does 2 in 176 million convert to 1 in 88 million? Two tickets double your chances???

2/176=1/88

You divide both the numerator and denominator by 2
Artist77

United States
Member #121,739
January 16, 2012
8,817 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 6:56 pm

Quote: Originally posted by redhot7 on Mar 12, 2013
2/176=1/88

You divide both the numerator and denominator by 2

lol Yea I know that but that was not my point. Two tickets do not improve the odds by 50%.
ttech10

Texas
United States
Member #92,326
June 5, 2010
887 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 8:06 pm

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Mar 12, 2013
I don't think it matters a whole lot if you have one or two lines in a game that has over 175 million possible lines.

Picture a pile of over 175 million grains of sand and one of them (painted red) is yours.

What do you think the chances are that you could pick out that red one - blindfolded?

And do you think having 2 grains of sand painted red in that pile of over 175 million grains of sand would increase your chances much?

That's just something to consider if the expense of another ticket is a concern.

This. It's why I play a single line.

I've done better with my single line than I have when I played five.
rcbbuckeye

100

Texas
United States
Member #55,887
October 23, 2007
17,723 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 8:09 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Mar 12, 2013
lol Yea I know that but that was not my point. Two tickets do not improve the odds by 50%.

Uh oh....

we've been down this road a few times. Here we go again. LOL.

CAN'T WIN IF YOU'RE NOT IN

A DOLLAR AND A DREAM (OR $2)
Artist77

United States
Member #121,739
January 16, 2012
8,817 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 8:18 pm

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Mar 12, 2013
Uh oh....

we've been down this road a few times. Here we go again. LOL.

;) lol...not with me....just making sure I am not missing something here. Someone does not know stats 101.
rdgrnr

100

The Hall Of The Mountain Kings Tennessee
United States
Member #73,902
April 28, 2009
15,378 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 9:30 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Mar 12, 2013
lol Yea I know that but that was not my point. Two tickets do not improve the odds by 50%.

Yeah, if doubling your tickets improved your odds by 50% I'd be a very wealthy redneck.

1 ticket = 1 in 176 million

2 tickets = 1 in 88 million

4 tickets = 1 in 44 million

8 tickets = 1 in 22 million

16 tickets = 1 in 11 million

32 tickets = 1 in 5.5 million

64 tickets = 1 in 2.75 million

128 tickets = 1 in 1.375 million

256 tickets = 1 in 0.6875 million

512 tickets = 1 in 0.34375 million

1024 tickets = 1 in 0.17135 million

2048 tickets = 1 in 0.0859375 million

And all like that there, you get the picture.
mcginnin56

United States
Member #111,437
May 25, 2011
6,323 Posts
Offline

Mar 12, 2013, 9:31 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Mar 12, 2013
;) lol...not with me....just making sure I am not missing something here. Someone does not know stats 101.

Thank goodness we have lottery cops on this site, to enforce the inaccurate naysayers.